Top Challenges For Nonprofits

May 31, 2007      Admin

A new study from the Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Listening Post Project identifies the following as the top “very significant” challenges for nonprofits, as indicated by responding organizations:

  • Charitable fundraising (68% of organizations)
  • Health benefit costs (58%)
  • Government budget cuts (47%)
  • Generating fee income (46%)
  • Board recruitment (46%)
  • Public understanding (41%)

That fundraising is the top concern is hardly a shocker; but somewhat surprisingly, only 23% of nonprofits cited “accountability demands” as a very significant challenge.

One has to wonder how much the 77% of nonprofits who don't perceive accountability as a significant challenge overlaps with the 68% who have fundraising problems!

Roger & Tom

P.S. The sample included 341 nonprofits from the children & family services, elderly housing & services, community & economic development, and museum & theaters sectors.